Edging machine



SeP- 29, 1942 P. J. KIRKMAN ET AL 2,296,934

EDGING MACHINE Filed Nov. l5, 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet-2 Gttorneg PatentedSept. 29, 1942 EDGING MACHINE Peter Schafer, Toledo, Ohio, assignors J.Kirkman, Ottawa, Ill., and Conrad B.

to Libbey- Owens-Ford Glass Company, Toledo, Ohio, a

corporation of Ohio Appiieasin November 15, i939, serial No. suites (ci.:a1- vii 7 Claims.

The present invention relates to edging machines broadly and moreparticularly to an improved machine for grinding the edges of sheets orplates of glass and the like.

Generally` speaking, this invention appertains to the so-called Webertype of edging machine wherein one or ra plurality of sheets or platesof glass are supported` on edge in a vertical position and passedhorizontally along. a runway over and in engagement with one or a seriesof grinding and/o1` polishing wheels to. surface the bottom edges ofsaid sheetsor plates. This type of machine has been heretofore used forgrinding both straight edges and curvededges. However, in the grindingof curved edges, it has been customary either to rock the sheets orplates in a vertical plane during the passing of the curved lower edgesthereof over the grinding wheels or to move the sheets or platesvertically relative to said grinding wheels in passing them thereover.

It is an aim of this invention to provide an edging machine of the abovegeneral character of improved construction and arrangement which iscapable of grinding not only straight edges but also curved edges ofdiiierent contour or a comz.

bination of both in a thoroughly practical and eicient manner andwherein the necessity of rocking the sheets or moving them verticallyduring grinding is obviated.

Another important the provision of an edging machine of the abovecharacter operable to grind not only the lower edges of the sheets,whether they be straight or curved, but also serving to round the lowercorners of the sheets at the opposite ends thereof as the said sheetsare passed horizontally over the grinding wheels.

Another important object of the invention is the provision of an edgingmachine of the above character wherein the grinding wheels are mountedfor vertical floating movement beneath the sheets and normally urgedupwardly into the path of travel of said sheets, said grinding wheelsbeing forced downwardly by said sheets as they engage the saine sheets,and then automatically moved upwardly as the sheets pass out ofengagement therewith to round the opposite corner of said sheets.

A further important object of the invention is the provision of anedging machine of the above i' character having associated therewithmeans, controlled by downward movement of the grinding wheels, forapplying pressure to said grinding wheels to urge them upwardly intoengagement with the lower edges of the sheets, the amount object of theinvention is to round one corner of the of pressure being automaticallyincreased as the said grinding wheels move downwardly.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become more apparentduring the course of the following description, when taken in connectionwith the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings, wherein like numerals are employed to designate likeparts throughout the same:V

Fig. l i's a side elevation of an edging machine constructed inaccordance with the invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical' transverse section taken substantially on line 2-2of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 isv a horizontal transverse section taken substantially on line3-3 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic view illustratingl the operation of themachine.

With reference now to the drawings, the machine comprises in general oneor a plurality of rotatable grinding wheels |10 preferably provided witha series of grooves I I in the periphery thereof adapted to receivetherein the edges of a plurality of sheets or plates of glass or thelike I2 to be ground. The grinding wheel I!) is mounted upon ahorizontal shaft I3 journaled at its opposite ends in bearings I4 and I5which are carried at the outer end of a relatively long substantiallyhorizontal supporting arm I6. The supporting arm I6 is pivotally mountedadjacent its opposite end upon a horizontal shaft I1 carried by thevertical standard I8 intermediate the upper and lower ends thereof.

Carried at the inner end of the supporting arm IB is an L-shaped bracketI9 having a substantially vertical portion 20 and a substantiallyhorizontal portion 22. The substantially vertical portion 20 of thebracket I9 is secured to the inner end of the supporting arm I6 by boltsor the like 2l. Pivoted to the substantially horizontal portion 22 ofthe bracket I9, as at 23, is a substantially vertical plate 24 carryingthe motor 25 for driving the grinding wheel I0, said motor 25 beingsecured to said plate 24 by screws or the like 2S. The plate 24 isadjustably secured at its upper end to the substantially verticalportion 2E) of bracket I9 by means of a bolt 21 which is pivoted to saidplate 24 as at 28 and received within a slot 29 in the upper end of saidbracket I9. Threaded upon the bolt 21 is a nut 3U.

The means for driving the grinding wheel It comprises a plurality ofendless belts 3l trained about a grooved pulley 32 keyed to the shaft 33of motor 25 and also about a grooved pulley 34 xed to one end of thegrinding wheel shaft I3.

preferably enclosed in a housing 35. The purpose of securing the motor25 to the pivoted plate l24 is to provide means for maintaining thedrive belts 3| taut. Thus, as the belts 3| become worn, there is atendency for them to stretch and when this occurs, the nut 30 can beloosened to permit the plate 24 to swing outwardly upon its pivot 23.The outward movement of the plate 24 and motor 25 will result in atightening of the belt 3|. The inward movement of the plate 24 can becontrolled by a stop screw 36.

It will be noted that the motor 25 is located at the side of the pivotshaft I1 opposite to that of the grinding wheel I so that the weight ofthe motor 25 and its associated parts will serve to rock the supportingarm I6 in a clockwise direction and thereby normally urge the grindingwheel I0 upwardly. As illustrated in Fig. 1, the upper portion of thegrinding wheel I9 normally projects above the runways and is disposed inthe path of travel of the forward edges of the glass sheets I 2.

The supporting standard I8 comprises a pair of spacedvvertical uprights31 and 38 connected together adjacent their lower ends by a transverseweb 39 and also adjacent their upper ends by a transverse web 40.Supported upon and secured to the upper end of the supporting standardI8 are the spaced parallel longitudinally extending side boards 4I and42 carrying therebetween a series of horizontally aligned conveyor rolls43 constituting a runway leading to the grinding Awheel I9. Ihe rolls 43are adapted to support the glass sheets I2 to be ground on edge in avertical position and are preferably provided with grooves 44 Yforreceiving the lower edges of the said sheets I2 therein. Arranged at theopposite side of the grinding wheel I0 is a similar runway 45 includingthe horizontally aligned conveyor rolls 46 for receiving the sheetsI2`as they pass from the grinding wheel.

During the grinding operation, the glass sheets I2 are adapted to bemoved continuously forwardly over the grinding wheel I0 and, in order tomaintain the sheets I2 downwardly in proper position, there arevprovided a plurality of pressure rolls 41 adapted to engage and ridealong the upper edges of the sheets I2 as they pass over the grindingwheel III. Each of the pressure rolls 41 is also preferably grooved toreceive the upper edges of the glass sheets I2 and is freely rotatableupon a` horizontal pin 48' carried at the outer end of an arm 49 whichis pivotally mounted at its inner end upon a horizontal stub shaft 50carried by a block 5I. Secured to the inner end of yarm 49 is a secondarm 52 which cooperates with arm 49 to form a bell-crank lever. Slidablycarried upon arm 52 is a weight 53 which serves to urge the pressureroll 41 downwardly into engagement with the upper edges of the glasssheets I2. VThe weight 53 is adjustable along arm 52 so that thepressure of the roll 41 upon the glass sheets I 2 can be varied yasdesired. The block is mounted for vertical sliding movement in a slot 54formed in a supporting plate 55 so that the roll 41 can be adjustedbodily vertically depending upon the size of sheets being ground.

The means for moving the glass sheets I2 forwardly along the runwaysandover the grinding wheel I9 includes a pusher block 56 engaging the rearedges of the glass sheets I2 and provided with ngers 51 received betweenthe sheets I2 to maintain them in properly spaced relation.

rolls 43 until the rounded corners The pusher block 56 is arrangedbetween and carried by two sprocket chains 58 and 59 which slide alonghorizontal rails 69 and 6I respectively. These rails are carried at theupper ends of vertical straps 62 and 63 secured to the runway sideboards 4| and 42 respectively.

The means for pivotally mounting the supporting arm I6 upon shaft I1 isbest shown in Fig. 3 and will now be described in detail. The verticaluprights 31 and 38 of supporting standard I8 are provided intermediatetheir upper and lower ends with vertical slots 64 and 65 respectively,and passing horizontally through said slots are bolts 66 and 61 carriedat one end by bearings 68 and 69 in which the opposite ends of shaft I1are mounted. Carried by the bearings 68 and 59 and fitting over theuprights 31 and 38 are plates 1n and 1I respectively having openingstherein through which the bolts 66 and 61 also pass. Threaded upon theouter ends of bolts 66and 61 are nuts 12 and 13 respectively forsecuring the bearings 68 and 69 in place to properly position the shaftI1.

Carried by the supporting -arm I6 is a transverse cylindrical sleeve 14through which shaft I1 extends. Mounted upon said shaft I1 are ballbearing assemblies 15 which rotatably support the sleeve 14 at oppositeends thereof whereby to permit rocking movement of the supporting arm I6upon the shaft I1. With this construction, it will be readily seen thatthe grinding wheel I9 is capable of vertical floating movement duringthe travel of the glass sheets I2 thereover so that it can freely followthe curvature of the lower edges of the sheets I2.

The supporting arm I6 can be adjusted bodily vertically by means ofvertical adjusting screws 16 and 11 threaded through blocks 18 and 19respectively carried by the uprights 31 and 38 and engaging plates 10and 1| respectively. In order to effect transverse adjustment of thegrinding wheel I9 to line up the grooves I I therein with the grooves inthe conveyor rolls of the runways, one end of the shaft I1 may bethreaded i as at 89 within the respective bearing 68 or 69,

while the opposite end thereof can be shaped as as 8| to receive awrench or other tool. Upon loosening of the lock nut 82 on shaft I1, thesaid shaft can be rotated to move the supporting arm I6 either inwardlyor outwardly.

As brought out above, the machine herein provided is not only adapted togrind the bottom edges of' the glass sheets I 2, whether they be curvedor straight, but is also adapted to eiect the grinding of the two lowercorners at the opposite ends thereof. Although sheets of Various shapesand sizes may be ground upon the machine, there has been illustrated byway of example a substantially rectangular sheet I 2 having asubstantially straight bottom edge a, a rounded corner b of relativelylarge radius at the forward end thereof and a rounded corner c ofrelatively smaller radius at the opposite end. Also, as pointed outabove, the grinding wheel IU is normally urged upwardly and maintainedin the path of travel of the glass sheets I2 as shown in Fig. l by theweight of the motor 25 and its associated parts which act to rock thesupporting arm I6 in a clockwise direction upon shaft I1.

With reference particularly to Fig. 4, the glass sheets I2 are movedforwardly over the conveyor b of the sheets I2 engage the grinding wheelI9. At this time,

the sheets I2 are in the broken line position indicated at IZA while thegrinding wheel I0 is in the position shown inA broken lines. Upon Vcon,-tinued forward movement of the glass sheets I2 into full line positionIZB, the grinding wheel I will be forced. downwardly against the weightof the motor 25 and associated parts. However, the Weight of the motorv25 and' associated parts will maintain the grinding wheel I9 inengagement with the. lower edges of the sheets I2 as also shown in fulllines to effect the grinding thereof as they move forwardly. Then, asthe rear ends of the sheets I2 pass beyondv the grinding wheel IU intobroken line position I2C, the said wheel Il] will automatically moveupwardly to finish oid the corners c. It will thus be seen that thegrind'- ing wheel I0 will be forced` downwardly by the sheets I2 as saidsheets. I2 engage the same and will then be automatically returned toraised position as the sheets pass out of engagement therewith. Also,that the grinding wheel .l acts to grind one corner of the sheets I2 asit is forced downwardly thereby and the opposite corner thereof as itreturns to raised position. The position of gie glass sheets I2 can ofcourse be reversed, if desired, so that the relatively sharp corners cwill constitute the forward corners and the relatively wide corners bthe rear corners.

At the beginning of the grinding operation, the weight of the motor 25and associated parts serves to exert suflicient pressure of the wheelIll against the edges of the sheets I2 to effect the proper grindingthereof. However, as the grinding wheel IE) is forced downwardly andpasses into engagement with the bottom edges a of the sheets I2, asshown in full lines in Fig. 4, the weight of the motor 25 and associatedparts does not cause the grinding wheel IQ to exert sufcient pressureupon the sheet edges and it therefore becomes necessary to increase thepressure of the wheel Ill upon the glass. This is automaticallyaccomplished by the provision of a plurality of weights 83 slidablycarried upon a vertical rod 84. It will be noted that the rod 84 tapersupwardly and that the openings in the weights 83 are of such relativesize that when the Weights 83 are slid downwardly upon the rod Sli theywill come to rest in vertically spaced relation. The rod 84 is providedat its lower end with a reduced threaded portion 85 carrying a nut 35above which is. arranged a washer 8l. The substantially horizontalportion 22 of L- shaped bracket I8 is received between the washer 81 andlowermost weight 83 and is provided with a slot 88 resulting in thebifurcated portions 8S and 9B disposed at opposite sides of the rod 8A.

The upward movement of the grinding wheel I0 is limited by engagement ofthe substantially horizontal portion 22 of L-shaped bracket I9 withwasher 81. At this time, the weights B3 do not bear upon the bracket I9and therefore have no effect upon the position of the grinding wheel I5.However, as the glass sheets I2 move forwardly over the grinding WheelI0 and the wheel I0 is forced downwardly thereby, the substantiallyhorizontal portion 22 of bracket I9 will move upwardly and will effect aprogressive lifting of the weights 83. As each of the weights S3 islifted, it will exert a downward pressure upon the bracket I9 to urgethe supporting arm I6 in a clockwise direction and the grinding wheel Iupwardly against the lower edges of the glass sheets I2. The weights 83will also be automatically removed from the bracket I9 as the grindingwheel Il! moves upwardly to normal position. The normal upward positionof the grinding wheelV can be varied by proper adjust'- ment of the nut85.

It will of course be appreciated that one or any desired number ofgrinding wheels maybe employed. Likewise, that the term glass is hereinused in its generic sense to designate either plate glass, laminatedglass, or substances of similar characteristics.

It is to be understood that the form of the invention herewith shown anddescribed is to be taken as the preferred embodiment of the same,

and that various changes in the shape,V size and arrangement of partsmay be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention orthe scope of theV subjoined claims.

We claim: r

1. In apparatus for grinding the edges' of sheets or plates of glass andthe like, means for supporting a sheet on edge in a vertical positionand for carrying the same forwardly in a generally horizontal direction,a grinding wheel over which said sheet is adapted to pass and whichserves to grind the lower edge thereof, means for pivotally mountingsaid grinding wheel so that. it is free to follow the contour of thelower edge of the sheet, means urging said grinding wheel upwardly andnormally maintaining it in the path of travel of the forward edge ofsaid sheet, said grinding wheel being forced downwardly by the sheet assaid sheet passes thereover, and pressure means including a plurality ofweights which are successively applied to the means for pivotally'mounting the grinding Wheel upon downward movement of said grindingwheel to urge it upwardly' into engagement with the lower edge of thesheet.

2. In apparatus for grinding the edges of sheets or plates of glass andthe like, a substantially horizontal runway for supporting a sheet onedge in a vertical position and along which the sheet is Vadapted totravel, a grinding wheel over which said sheet is `passed and whichserves to grind the lower edge thereof, a supporting arm carrying saidgrinding wheel at one end and being pivotally mounted adjacent itsopposite end, a motor carried by said supporting arm foi` driving saidgrinding wheel and for also urging the said grinding wheel upwardly andnormally maintaining it in the path of travel of the forward edge ofsaid sheet, said grinding wheel being forced downwardly by the sheet assaid sheet passes thereover, and pressure means including a plurality ofweights which are successively applied to said supporting arm upondownward movement of the grinding wheel for applying pressure to saidgrinding wheel to urge it upwardly into engagement with the lower edgeof the sheet.

3. In apparatus for grinding the edges of sheets or plates of glass andthe like, a substantially horizontal runway for supporting a sheet onedge in a vertical position and along which the sheet is adapted totravel, a grinding wheel over which said sheet is passed and whichserves to grind the lower edge thereof, a supporting arm carrying saidgrinding wheel at one end and being pivotally mounted adjacent itsopposite end, a motor carried by said supporting arm for driving saidgrinding wheel and for also urging the said grinding wheel upwardly andnormally maintaining it in the path of travel of the forward edge ofsaid sheet, said grinding wheel being forced downwardly by the sheet assaid sheet passes thereover, a vertical rod mounted in a fixed position,and a plurality of weights carried upon said rod in vertically spacedrelation and positionedv above the end of said supporting arm remotefrom the grinding wheel so that they will be successively picked up bysaid supporting arm upon downward movement of the grinding Wheel toexert pressure upon said grinding wheel to urge it upwardly intoengagement with the lower edge of said sheet.

4. In apparatus for grinding the edges of sheets or plates of glass andthe like, a substantially horizontal runway for supporting a sheet onedge in a vertical position and along which the sheet is adapted totravel, a grinding wheel over which said sheet is passed and whichserves to grind the lower edge thereof, a supporting arm carrying saidgrinding wheel at one end and being pivotally mounted adjacent itsopposite end, a bracket carried at the end of said supporting arm remotefrom said grinding wheel and including a substantially horizontalportion having a slot therein, a motor carriedr by said bracket fordriving said grinding wheel and for also urging the said grinding wheelupwardly and normally maintaining itin the path of travel of the forwardedge of said sheet, said grinding wheel being forced. downwardly by thesheet as said sheet passes thereover, a vertical rod mounted in a xedposition and having its lower end received through the slot inthesubstantially horizontal portion of said bracket, and a plurality ofweights carried upon said rod in vertically spaced relation and whichare successively picked up by the horizontal portion of said bracketupon downward movement of the grinding wheel to exert pressure upon saidgrinding wheel to urge it upwardly into engagement with the lower edgeof said sheet.

5. In apparatus for grinding the edges of sheets or plates of glass andthe like, means for supporting a sheet on edge in a vertical positionand for carrying the same forwardly in a generally horizontal direction,a grinding wheel over which said sheet is adapted to pass and whichserves to grind the lower edge thereof, means for pivotally mountingsaid grinding wheel so that it is free to follow the contour of thelower edge of the sheet, means urging said grinding wheel upwardly andnormally maintaining it in the path of travel of the forward edge ofsaid sheet, said grinding wheel being i'orC-ed downwardly by the sheetas said sheet passes thereover, and auxiliary pressure means independentof said last-named means normally maintained out of engagement with themeans for pivotally mounting the grinding wheel and automaticallyapplied thereto as the grinding wheel is forced downwardly by the sheetto urge said grinding wheel upwardly into engagement with the lower edgeof said sheet.

6. In apparatus for grinding the edges of sheets or plates of glass andthe like, means for supportinga sheet on edge in a vertical position andfor carrying the same forwardly in a generally horizontal direction, agrinding wheel over which said sheet is adapted to pass and which servesto grind the lower edge thereof, supporting means for the grinding wheelpivotally mounted so that said grinding wheel is free to follow thecontour of the lower edge of the sheet, means acting upon saidsupporting means for urging said grinding wheel upwardly and normallymaintaining it in the path of travel of the forward edge of said sheet,said grinding wheel being forced downwardly by the sheet as said sheetpasses thereover, and auxiliary pressure means independent vof saidlast-named means, normally maintained out of engagement with saidgrinding wheel supporting means, and controlled by downward movement ofsaid grinding wheel for applying progressively increasing pressure tosaid supporting means as the said grinding wheel moves downwardly tourge it upwardly into engagement with the lower edge of the sheet.

7. In apparatus for grinding the edges of sheets or plates of glass andthe like, a substantially horizontal runway for supporting a sheet onedge in a vertical position and along which the sheet is adapted totravel, a grinding wheel over which said sheet is passed and whichserves to grind the lower edge thereof, a supporting arm. carrying saidgrinding wheel at one end and being pivotally mounted adjacent itsopposite end, a motor carried by said supporting arm for driving saidgrinding wheel and for also urging the -said grinding wheel upwardly andnormally maintaining it in the path of travel of the for- Ward edge ofsaid sheet, said grinding wheel being forced downwardly by the sheet assaid sheet passes thereover, and auxiliary pressure means normallymaintained out of engagement with said supporting arm and automaticallyapplied to the said supporting arm as the grinding wheel movesdownwardly to urge said grinding Wheel upwardly into engagement with thelower edge of the sheet.

PETER J. KIRKMAN.

CONRAD B. SCHAFER.

